A pair of AL West rivals finish up their weekend set and prepare for the All-Star break as they finish up a series in the Lone Star State. The Oakland A’s close a three-game series on the road with the Houston Astros Sunday afternoon. In the opening game of the series Friday night, Oakland handcuffed Houston’s offensive attack and earned a 5-1 victory to draw first blood. Will the A’s find a way to stun Houston again and head into the break with a series victory or can Houston bounce back to maintain their massive edge in the AL West? This article was published prior to the conclusion of the middle game of the set Saturday afternoon.
Oakland has split their last six games as they knocked off Houston in the opening game of this set Friday night. The A’s entered Saturday in the basement of the AL West, 28 games behind the Astros for the top spot in the division race. On Friday night, Oakland finished with nine hits with Skye Bolt (run, three RBI) the lone player with more than one as he finished with three. He hit his second homer of the season in the victory, a two-run shot in the ninth inning, to create some breathing room. Cole Irvin (4-7) was razor sharp as he picked up the win on the mound. He threw six innings, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts before handing things over to the bullpen.
James Kaprielian is expected to take the hill and make his 15th start of the season for the A’s in this contest. He comes in 1-5 with a 5.09 ERA, a 1.362 WHIP, 32 walks and 45 strikeouts over 69 innings of work this season. Kaprielian didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came against the Rangers on the road Tuesday night. He threw five innings, allowing three runs on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts in a game Oakland won 14-7 in 12 innings. In his last three starts, Kaprielian is 1-0 with a 2.65 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, seven walks and nine strikeouts over 17 innings of work. Kaprielian didn’t factor in the decision in his lone career start against the Astros, which came on the road on October 2, 2021. He threw 3.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with one walk and five strikeouts in a game the A's eventually dropped 10-4. That outing came at Minute Maid Park, giving him a passing familiarity with the park.